Date Lady

Date Lady makes organic pantry staples built around dates: date syrup, date sugar, date paste, whole dates, and date-sweetened chocolate spread, chocolate chips and savory sauces. The original date syrup has a single ingredient, organic deglet noor dates, and the range is made without refined sugar. The brand began in 2012 after Colleen and Ryan discovered date syrup while living in the Middle East, and it is family owned in Springfield, Missouri, where much of the line is bottled and many sauces are made by hand.

• What is in the date syrup?

  Only organic dates, with nothing else added.

• What kind of dates go into the syrup?

  Deglet noor dates, which give a smooth, consistent flavor and a slightly reddish color.

• Where do the dates come from?

  California, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

• Where are the products made?

  The date syrup is imported from long-time fruit syrup makers. Most products are bottled and packaged at the company's Springfield, Missouri facility, where the chocolate spread and sauces are made by hand.

• Are the products gluten free and vegan?

  Everything is gluten free, and everything is vegan except the seasonal fruitcake, which contains eggs.

• What about common allergens?

  The main kitchen does not process wheat, dairy, peanuts, shellfish or tree nuts, apart from coconut oil. The seasonal fruitcake contains pecans and is made in a separate kitchen.

• Are the products kosher?

  Yes, all products are certified kosher by Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City.

• Do the chocolate chips contain emulsifiers or added sugar?

  No. There is no soy or sunflower lecithin, no cane sugar and no sugar alcohols; the sweetness comes from organic dates.